Twilight Time

March 23, 2014

ThinCrescentVenus012914ChumackHRweb

Photographer: John Chumack; John’s Web site
Summary Author: John Chumack; Jim Foster

On my way to work this frigid winter’s morning in Dayton, the still twilight sky rendered the sliver of the waning, crescent Moon and brilliant Venus low in the east. It’s always a treat to see these two paired together, but what really got my attention was that the clock on the facing of the University of Dayton Physical Activity Center lined up perfectly with the ecliptic – the Moon, Venus and other planets (not shown here). Here, in the foreglow of the coming day, this rendezvous was too much to pass up, despite the fact that the air temperature was -3 F (-20 C). I got off this quick shot before my fingers froze. If you look closely at the Moon, you can just detect earthshine. Photo taken on January 29, 2014, at 7:17 a.m. Sunrise was 30 min later.

Photo details: Canon PowerShot SX160 IS Camera; 20mm; f/8; ISO 800; 1/3 second exposure; hand held.